When you’re navigating mental health concerns or trying to work on your relationship, you must take the time to find a therapist who can help with your unique needs. After all, seeing a counselor or therapist requires you to be vulnerable, take steps to address existing behaviors, and work to develop coping mechanisms that help you thrive.
Of course, this means that you’ll need to know how to find a therapist that can learn your needs and help you address them. So whether you are navigating a substance abuse disorder or you’re looking for a counselor that has experience working with LGBT couples, here’s what you need to know.
Find a therapist who works with your community.
Say, for instance, you’re looking for gay couple therapy. While a counselor who primarily works with heterosexual couples might have valuable insights that can benefit couples in a general sense, they might not have as much experience working directly with gay relationships, same-sex couples, or LGBTQ community needs. While this is particularly important concerning gay couples therapy, you can also apply the concept to other mental health and counseling needs.
For example, certain therapists and counselors may have additional training that they can use to help you overcome specific relationship issues, navigate an open relationship, or addressĀ communication issues. The right therapist can also consider your cultural background to provide tailored advice and mental health solutions that factor in personalized scenarios and needs.
Look for a therapist that works with your insurance.
So often, individuals and couples forego therapy due to social stigmas, inaccessible resources, and, particularly, expenses. Costs can climb even further if you’re looking for therapy services that won’t work with your insurance provider. That’s why gay couples, straight couples, and individuals should understand how to search for in-network therapists and understand your financial responsibilities.
Luckily, many insurance providers offer helpful provider search tools that can help you narrow down mental health professionals by their location, their network availability. This way, you can find a provider that’s currently accepting patients and even filter your search results to find mental health professionals with experience helping LGBTQ+ individuals, those navigating a substance abuse condition, or heterosexual couples looking for marriage counseling.
Take time to establish a trusting relationship.
Though many of us wish it were so, therapy isn’t an overnight process. Sometimes, it’ll take a bit of patience when you’re trying to select a counselor or therapist to help with your specific mental and emotional needs. It’s also crucial that you understand that therapy is a slower process too. While you may reach certain breakthroughs and milestones faster than others, therapy and self-improvement are often lifelong pursuits.
If you meet with a therapist and find that you don’t gel with them or that you’re having difficulty opening up, you may want to consider looking for other providers or trying telehealth options. However, it’ll also take time to build a rapport with your counselor, and you don’t want to rush that critical relationship-building process. In addition, when you’re trying to navigate different providers, insurance expenses, and network options, it can feel daunting to “start over,” so to speak. Again, however, it’s often in your best interests, especially if you struggle to connect with a provider.
Some resources can help.
From online mental health services to counselors working with same-sex couples, there are existing resources that can help you connect to the right mental and emotional health professionals. Though it can regularly take time to find the appropriate professionals and a perfect fit, it’s okay if your mental health journey doesn’t always look like a straight line. There are often details, hangups, and bottlenecks. However, if you put in the time and energy, you’re more likely to connect with a professional who can help you address your needs.
